Economy Minister Peter Altmaier completed on the Nile river for three days in a tight schedule. Germany puts a focus on Egypt, even if there is a criticism of the hard Hand of the regime against the opposition. Jens Thurau, Cairo.
A surprising appointment to the state President Al-Sisi: economy Minister Altmaier (li.)
The politically most important date of the trip of Federal Minister Peter Altmaier to Egypt lasted longer than planned, actually a good sign. The conversation with the controversial President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, participants, reports had been open and constructive. Alone the subject of human rights, the President is sensitive, the risk of terrorism in his country is higher than in Europe.
Actually, this Meeting between a Minister and the head of state, so it is from German government circles is just not, of course, but was understood as a gesture of appreciation towards the Germans. And the 34 representatives of the German economy were able to tell the powers-that-your problems with commitment in Egypt: the nerve-sapping bureaucracy, customs regulations, the time-consuming authorities handling the long time does not work everywhere online. Altmaier said after the Meeting: “The Egyptian government is determined to strengthen the growth forces of the country and to stabilise Egypt politically. And this can lead us to the German-Egyptian cooperation on a new basis.” The work is the basis of political foundations, which had been massively hampered in the last few years, have now improved again.
Calls for the observance of human rights in Egypt: Minister of economic Affairs, Peter Altmaier
No room for criticism
Of a “breather” for Egypt, after grueling years after the Arab spring of 2011, Altmaier, head of the language prior to the visit by Al-Sisi. Germany has a strong interest in stability in the Land of the Nile, which has good relations to Israel and in a number of important issues with the West, cooperating. And from Egypt, only a few refugees come to Europe. “The unemployment rate is 10 percent, which is as low as since the Arab spring, the future is positive,” summarizes Altmaier.
But the economy Minister is also aware of the precarious situation of human rights in Egypt. Before his departure, he met with human rights groups in Berlin. The middle East expert of the “Human Rights Watch”, Michael Page, said to be the beginning of the year: “There is almost no room to criticize peacefully, the government, without being imprisoned and unfairly as a Terrorist followed.” Amnesty International reported, solely to the many political prisoners to accommodate, had last been 19 new prisons built. And reporters without borders complained, about half of the media were now in the hands of the state or of the infamous secret service. A stable Egypt, but this is paid for with a massive and ubiquitous apparatus of Oppression. Still better, is it of the interlocutor, as if the Islamists were in Power.
Tourism is for Egypt to be the main sources of income
Vocational education and training in Egypt can also benefit Germany
Outside the Mega-metropolis of Cairo Altmaier visited a Siemens plant and the new Coptic Cathedral. Just 28 months, Siemens needed in Egypt for the construction of the third major Gas and steam turbine power plant in front of the gates of Cairo. And together with the Federal government, the group also participates in the in-company training – is still in the spring training center for over 5000 young Egyptians to start operating. This can be important also for Germany, at the end of the year, the new skilled workers immigration to facilitate the law on the entry of qualified young people that the German economy urgently needs. Altmaier: “Egypt is a very fast-growing population, each year, around two percent, that is why it is worthwhile for Germany to support Egypt in the vocational education and training.”
Solid Egypt is investing in the construction of more than 20 new cities in the desert and in the infrastructure to meet the population explosion, which has also led to high government debt. In one of these future cities, an hour’s drive East of Cairo, is the new Cathedral “birth of Christ”. Another highlight on Altmaiers round trip.
A sign of hope for the Copts: The new Cathedral of the birth of Christ in Cairo was consecrated to
15 million Christians in Egypt. Mohammed Morsi, Egypt between 2012 and 2013 that was ruled by a representative of the Islamist Muslim brotherhood, and according to the German Ambassador in Cairo, Julius Georg Luy, had to suffer the Christian Copts in a difficult time under the Islamists. Morsi was deposed in 2013 by the current rulers of Al-Sisi and the military. After 2017, were killed in an attack by Islamists over 20 Copts in Cairo, ordered Al-Sisi to the new building of the great Cathedral, which was built in a record time of only two years, from around 30,000 workers. It offers around 8500 faithful place, with towers of two 200-Meter-high bell. “This visit was important to me, we wanted to put a sign,” says Altmaier.
On the last day of his visit to Egypt, on Monday, may satisfy the Amateur historian and Bismarck expert, then a childhood dream. The Cousin of his father, says Altmaier, gave him a book about the ancient Egyptians, which got him very intrigued. And now the CDU-politicians can take for the first Time the pyramids of Giza personally.